Expertise: Water Safety and Resources Expert
Expertise Group: Engineering
Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords:
Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
An individual consultant will support the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development
(MWS&EID) concurrently with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Central Environment Authority (CEA) of
Sri Lanka in developing relevant documents pertaining to the policy action 1.2 agreed upon between the
government and ADB as stated in the draft policy design and monitoring framework. The consultant will
assist the ADB team in ensuring alignment and compliance of the documents produced with the intention
expressed in the draft policy action. The consultant is expected to perform all tasks within 120
calendar days after mobilization with intermittent input.
The Water Safety Plan (WSP) is a comprehensive approach to assessing and managing risks associated with
the entire drinking-water supply chain, from the source to the end consumer. It covers information about
the water source, treatment processes, storage methods, and the various uses and users of water. The
main objectives of the WSP are to prevent contamination at any point in the supply chain, including the
source, storage, and distribution systems, and to ensure that the water is treated to meet specific
quality standards. By implementing a WSP, the team responsible can identify potential hazards and assess
their potential impact on water safety.
Scope of Work
The Water Safety and Resources Expert will be responsible for the overall preparation of documents
produced under the policy action. The consultant will review and identify potential gaps in the current
legal framework and institutional arrangements to ensure alignment with government strategies and to
avoid potential overlaps.
Working closely with the MWS&EID, the MOH, the CEA, and other relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry
of Irrigation, the Mahaweli Authority, and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the consultant
will develop a national policy on water safety plans that should be complied with by all water supply
providers in the country. The Water Safety Policy framework should be aligned with WHO guidelines and
manuals, and adequately adjusted for the country context in application to the urban, semi-urban, and
community water systems. The consultant should take into due consideration existing documents on the
policy subject. The MWS&EID will guide the consultant and facilitate discussions among different
stakeholders.
Sequentially, the consultant will (i) collect relevant information and documents, (ii) draft the policy
and related documents, (iii) validate the contents of the documents with relevant key stakeholders, (iv)
obtain public opinion, (v) finalize the policy document, and (vi) support the approval of the documents
by the government.
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
Not limited, the consultant will:
i. Undertake a desktop critical review of existing formal WSP policies both within/and outside the
region (using the WHO spreadsheet as a starting point (critical analysis of strengths, weaknesses, and
relevance to Sri Lanka).
ii. Consider complementarities of this policy with parallel policies under development.
iii. Draft a clear statement on the scope, purpose, and drinking-water safety aspirations of the policy.
iv. Follow phased approach principles.
v. Equally, consider urban/peri-urban/rural/estate/informal areas.
vi. Consider the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, including the ones in catchment areas.
vii. Promote an integrated water resources management approach, with due consideration of the recently
approved Integrated Water Resources Management Policy.
viii. While drafting the policy, the consultant should (a) consider existing regulations/standards and
surveillance considerations (including water quality auditing and monitoring), and (b) propose
innovative processes and procedures in ensuring water safety.
ix. While providing the recommendations, the consultant should consider aspects related to (not limited)
stakeholder consultation, protection of the poor and vulnerable, strengthening of gender participation,
climate resilience/benefits, economic impacts, financial sustainability, and overall water and
sanitation sector performance including increasing the private sector’s participation, government’s
ability and political will, with due considerations to the country’s economic situation and its
potential growth.
x. Jointly with the relevant stakeholders, the consultant will develop a national water safety plans
policy following national water quality standards, including climate and disaster risk assessments
(incorporating, among other issues, water depletion and contamination risk), and contingency plans for
their respective water supply schemes and any related or isolated facilities. The consultant is also
expected to develop a water safety plan training action plan, a roadmap for conducting audits of the
said water safety plans, public education, and communication including reporting mechanisms.
xi. In reference to the tasks carried out within the consultant’s assignment, the consultant is expected
to assist in the preparation of a policy brief that encompasses Policy Action 1.2, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7.
This policy brief will be led by the consultant recruited for policy action 1.6.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Engineering background and recognized professional qualification or
equivalent.
Experience: At least 10 years of Professional experience in the water and sanitation sectors in
developing countries and at least 5 years’ experience in Water Safety Plan application.
Responsibilities: The expert will support relevant stakeholders in developing documents pertaining to
the policy action 1.2. The expert will work closely with the Water Supply and Resources Expert, the
MWS&EID, the MOH, the CEA, and other relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Irrigation, the
Mahaweli Authority, and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.
Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 5 Years
